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Tim Burton is turning to familiar onscreen leading ladies for roles in Dark Shadows, the film he’ll direct for Warner Bros with Johnny Depp in the lead role of Barnabas Collins. Michelle Pfeiffer is in talks to play Elizabeth Collins Stoddard. And while talks haven’t begun yet, I’m told Helena Bonham Carter is in line to play Dr. Julia Hoffman.
Pfeiffer, who played a memorable Catwoman in the 1992 Burton-directed Batman Returns, will play the reclusive matriarch of the Collins clan. She is the owner of Collinwood, the mansion where the supernatural saga unfolds. That role was originated by Joan Bennett in the TV series.
Bonham Carter, who is Oscar nominated for The King’s Speech and just won the BAFTA, is likely to play Hoffman, a specialist in psychology and rare blood disorders who moves into Collinwood. While she initially is a threat to the vampire Barnabas, she eventually becomes his ally, who might be able to cure him of his thirst for blood. Bonham Carter, Burton’s leading lady off screen, has starred in Burton-directed films that include Alice in Wonderland and Sweeney Todd. Hoffman was played in the series by Grayson Hall.
Deadline told you previously that Eva Green was set to play the witch Angelique, Jackie Earle Haley is playing the conman Willie Loomis, while Bella Heathcoate will play Victoria Winters, the young governess of the Collins estate.
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I would love to see Michelle in this. We do not see enough of this stunning great actress.
What the hell is with tim burton doze has rock’s in his head or
what? Michelle as Eliziabeth Staddard Collins. What the hell was
he thinking?…..nuts Michelle could not act out of paper bag.
Dan.
This time in English, Dan!!!
dan. michelle is a great actress what are you talking about??
Helena Bonham Carter considered for role in Tim Burton movie.
In other news, water discovered to be wet; link found between eating food and gaining weight; liars detected somewhere in Hollywood…
… and Tim Burton to remake somebody else’s work; usual art directors hired; script optional.
As much as I’m tired of Burton reusing Depp and his baby mama Bonham-Carter, I really do like the cast shaping up. Eva Green, Pfeiffer, Haley — it looks like a dream cast to die for.
johhny is the one that started this project on dark shadows not tim burton
Now we need jonathan rhys myers for the brother Quentin
Quentin was not the brother, and also not in the original storyline. He was a ghost from the year 1897 who haunted Collinwood during the present day.
Wow. They’re all over the place with this, aren’t they? Michelle Pfeiffer is too young to play Liz.
And it was obvious Helena was going to get a role in this. After all– nepotism rules!
Actually, Pfeiffer is a perfect choice, at 53, to start playing characters of a matriarchal stature. I think its a great step for her career to begin to play roles like this one; mature, experienced women. They deserve representation, too.
If my math is correct, Joan Bennett was in her mid-fifties when she originated the role. Michelle seems like perfect casting to me!
Here’s an age comparison between the older actors and the new actors when they started playing the roles.
Barnabas – Jonathan Frid(43)/Johnny Depp(47)
Elizabeth – Joan Bennett(57)/Michelle Pfeiffer(52)
Julia – Grayson Hall(45)/Helena Bonham Carter(44)
Angelique – Lara Parker(30)/Eva Green(30)
Willie Loomis – John Karlen(34)/Jackie Earle Haley(49)
Victoria – Alexandra Isles(19)/Bella Heathcote(?, but she is pretty young)
Besides Jackie Earl Hayley, they are sticking very close to the ages of the original actors.
Thanks for posting that, Kenny. I didn’t realize how old Michelle Pfeiffer was. She really is stunning for her age. Perhaps she takes very good care of herself? Joan Bennett was one of my favorite actresses, but I never would have guessed she was in her 50s during the course of Dark Shadows. She looked a tad older, in my opinion.
Jonathan Frid, who was born on Dec. 2, 1924, was 42 years old when he assumed the role of Barnabas in April, 1967.
I think casting is going very well (I think Michelle will be great as Elizabeth and Johnny will knock it out of the park as Barnabas). The worst casting is for Willie Loomis. For those of us who remember the original series, Willie was quite a cutie. Sorry, but Jackie Earl Hayley is too old and… well, I won’t say anything about his looks!
What is wrong with nepotism when it so obviously works in Burton’s case!
A great film is created when you have a close knit group of people that work well together and appreciate each others abilities. What, you don’t like good chemistry?
I think you’re assuming far too much about someone you don’t know. I said nothing of the sort. ‘Good chemistry’ amounts to a wonderful film– always. Also, I have enjoyed Helena in quite a few movies. I was merely commenting on the fact that her gaining a role in this movie was predictable. Everyone knew she would portray Julia Hoffman. It was only a matter of time before it was announced. But I was in no way begrudging her for obtaining the role.
Nepotism? Really?…Have you ever seen Helena in any of Tim´s movies? If Yes, then you should know that she´s perfect in every of his movies and sometimes she is the only reason why are his movies watchable, so I am really excited of this “nepotism”.
Michelle Pfeiffer rocks. Loved her ever since I was a youngin’. She would be great in a Tim Burton movie, again. She rocked as Catwoman, so much better than Sean Young would have been.
Kudos Tim.
Helena would be perfect for this role and would do it justice like she does in any role she does
She goes through the same amount of auditioning as any other actress because he is in a relationship with Tim buton doesnt mean that she can’t get the role
But because so many people are complaining about Tim using Helena in his films.. it will properly be Eva
I don’t get people complaining that Burton uses a pool of actors when he casts his films. It worked for Orson Welles. No one complains when a studio signs an actor to appear in several of their movies. I’d much rather work with people I know and trust than take a chance on a wild card.
“Eva Green was set to play the witch Angelique,…”
Wait- “was set”…does that mean that she won´t be part of the cast afterall or is this just a typo of some sort? At least, I hope it is because I would love to see Eva Green in this! Does someone know a bit more about the status of Green´s involvement in the movie?
Who will Christopher Lee play?
As much as I’m hoping for stuff like the TV show’s legendary ‘werewolf wipeout’, this movie would be great if it was R-rated, tense, and scary as hell…post-Twilight, America needs some vampire shock treatment.
Great to see Pfeiffer in some high end goth material – she has that Deneuve-flavored blonde perversion…
You have to bring David Selby back in some sort of cameo. (He was the original Quentin and a solid actor today.)
How about for the role of Roger, assuming he’s in this incarnation…?
How about Jude Law. But it might be too small of a role for him to invest in.
no i dont think jude law will be right for this kind of movie
As a diehard fan of the original series, I wholeheartedly concur about casting the great David Selby!
Was rather surprised to hear about Michelle Pfeiffer as Liz, but I’m thrilled about Helena Bonham Carter. I think she will make a smashing Julia.
Tim,
What’s wrong with burton why didn’t get Mrs.Alexandra Moltke Isles
to play the role as Elizabeth Starddard Collins. She looks like the
late Joan Bennett. Then michelle pfeiffer!! What’s going on him???
You Mr.Tim.Burton make me so mad with the actors and actress you
are getting for your movie project. DAN
well everybody seems to be complaining about the castin be thankful that “Dark shadows” is coming back in some form
Elliott,
Your right about complaining about casting and also your right
we should be thankful ‘Dark Shadows is coming back….but people
have the right to feel about the cast like Michelle Peiffer you
may think she is a great actress but I don’t how many movies and
tv shows had she done?? Dan.
I really enjoyed Ben Cross’s performance in the short lived “Revival” series, especially the first show pilot. He had the ability to make his voice purr one moment and snarl the next, He played Barnabas as a very capable, strong personality who finds himself in an impossible situation. His anger and loneliness really come through in his performance. Whatever the outcome here, I hope that Mr. Burton remembers that the real attraction of the story IS the story and the development of the characters that made us all care about Dark Shadows so many years ago. (And yes, please give us a real vampire this time, tired of the watered down versions)
Johnny Depp makes Tim Burton
I hope Michelle,, can do the class act that the wonderful Joan Bennett did,, if anyone looks at any post about her,, they,, including Dan Curtis, says she was respected in Hollywood,, and was always on time for work,,, and of course,, she was a beauty
I was a follower in the 60s. Pretty good Cast for this type
of movie, but Vampires are in style Now!
Norman Collins